2 States: The Story Of My Marriage

I love reading Chetan Bhagat books and this is one of the best I have read yet!!! Good easy read!

Very early into the book, the following two sentences occurred on consecutive pages: "'Give mine to her', I said and regretted it immediately. She'll never date you. It's a rasgulla down the drain, I scolded myself." "Four hundred eyes followed us as I walked out of the mess with Ms. Ananya Swaminathan, rated the best girl by popular vote in IIMA." And I immediately surmised my expectations about the book. Being a Chetan Bhagat novel, I was expecting a breezy read filled with genuine laughs, cheesy situations, subtle advises, and bare-minimum melodrama. Glad to say, I was correct! For the uninitiated, this book tells the story of two lovers from geographically opposite ends (Delhi and Chennai) who take great efforts (and plan weird schemes) to convince each others' parents to bind them in holy matrimony. Set in 3 different cities with a plethora of well-written characters, Bhagat convincingly describes the differences in thinking, values, and ambitions of individuals and cultures. Besides the light-hearted nature of the book, I also liked the story's flow which at no point wavered from the core subject/aim of the book. Definitely recommend reading it, possibly on a long train journey.

I liked the book because I consider it a love story and, as I normally would reject reading "romances", I got a surprise. I like the story for its portrayal of the transformation in thinking and behavior of people who normally would hide behind their prejudices to keep themselves from accepting those who are different than they are and stepping outside of their personal, cultural cocoon too realize that their way is not the only acceptable way. I liked the story also because I learned new things about India, which before I tended too think about as one, unified country. The book is a great read, very engaging and terribly funny yet dramatic and sincere.

I started to read this book because I will be unable to watch the movie with the same title. I must say, that I enjoyed this book. The characters in the book seem familiar and one can easily imagine being in their place. In fact, if you have been in a relationship with a person from a different community, you will be able to relate to the story even more. The way parents and society responds to couples is very authentically depicted in the book. Overall, a good read.

Is 22:42 flat 7 hours since I bought this book on kindle. I have read three other books of Mr Bhagat. I was super excited about five point someone....but not so of one night at call centre, and three mistakes of my life was probably his low point. Oh and how I love two states! He had me in splits, showcasing the dichotomy of the two cultures!!!! Mr Bhagat like most best selling authors can write very well about subjects which are close to him. His armory is satire and sarcasm, which he uses to telling effect... He is a very smart writer and his credentials speak for themselves, but even smart writers need to have masala. His involvement and his excellent summary of his life as a banker is one such topic e can research more and write a book about? I hope he continues his work and research further to make fans like me come back again and again to his body of work...

This is an utterly charming read! Funny and sweet, albeit slightly implausible (mind you, what do I know?!), this comes across as a very modern tale of India today. However its themes are universal and if you're interested in stories of how to manage love and relationships as they move through the first flush and to where 'real life' intrudes, this is the book for you. It touches on domestic violence which I found to be quite interesting in a 'romantic comedy' novel. The characters are well rounded and the deftness of the author just avoids them descending into too much cliche. I hear they're making a movie of it, starring Shah Rukh Khan as the romantic hero. I adore SRK but he's too old to play the hero. He should play the father. It's the meatiest part and the most interesting character in the book. Highly recommended.

A beautifully explicated story of love. The dialogue, especially from the disappointed parents was quite a lesson in prevailing attitudes toward The Other. But, the final speech from Ananya’s father was uplifting and authentic. When one opens one’s heart, distrust and hatred melt away. Both Krish and Ananya went through so much to be together. Most mortals would have given up I think. But, these two prevailed and the world, and/or India is better for it. I love the author’s humor in telling this most intriguing tale.

The story itself is certainly compelling, and I do applaud Bhagat's attempts to keep the personalities of the characters and their choices as realistic and human as possible. I just found the writing a tad too basic, although it did make for a fast read.

This story is so true. Really easy to read with many references to the major stereotypes in India, I'm going to read another book of this writer

I found it extremely amusing in parts and I have learned a lot of life in India. He has such a lovely way telling his stories. So relaxing to read. I have become one of his fans. Have already read three of his novels.

I liked very much, it is a simple book with only one main character but bring me joy during my vacation.

"2 States" by Chetan Bhagat is a delightful and engaging read. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the witty and humorous narrative, which brought to life the cultural clash between Krish and Ananya's families. Bhagat does a fantastic job of balancing humor and emotional depth, making it easy to empathize with the characters' struggles and triumphs. The portrayal of the parents' initial reluctance and eventual acceptance felt authentic, adding a layer of realism to the love story. The book's depiction of Indian cultural diversity and the nuances of inter-caste marriages was both enlightening and entertaining. What stood out to me was Bhagat's ability to keep the tone light-hearted while addressing serious social issues. The relatable characters and their heartfelt journey made "2 States" a compelling read from start to finish. If you're looking for a romantic comedy with a touch of social commentary, this book is a perfect choice.

Wer Happy End sucht, kann sich das Buch kaufen. Typisch Bollywood. Hab was anderes erwartet….wie es in Indian wirklich abläuft und keine rosa rote Welt. Trotzdem: witzig und man kann es fließend lesen